pela

noun

pe·​la

ˈpālə

plural -s

1

: chinese wax

2

: a scale (Ericerus pela) that secretes Chinese wax

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Pekingese) pe² la⁴, from pe² white + la⁴ wax

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!